This is a wonderfully inspired event coming up, set your date if you’re in the area!!! Hair cut for a donation? Wishing I could be in the area for this! Help get the word out about this FUNdraiser event!
Shared on FB by:
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence shared Sheltering Wings Center for Women, Inc.'s photo.
This is a wonderful fundraiser for SW. Lots of silent auction items, great stylists for a great cause.
Mark your calender. ml
For bigger photo go here
We were asked to post the below in an effort to spread the word about this. Please read and pass it on to all you think would be interested! If you would like to participate in this please use the contact information contained in the website given below.
My name is Michelle Major.
I am a mother, a teacher, an artist.
I am also a survivor of domestic violence.
In August 2008, my husband tried to murder me in an act of domestic violence. Before beating me and strangling me to unconsciousness, he took a butcher knife and slashed ninety-four of my paintings. Through my artwork, I have moved from victim to survivor and I have turned my second chance at life into advocating for victims of domestic violence. I am spreading my story by sharing my butchered artwork through gallery showings and speaking engagements. I have turned this passion for shining a light onto the ugliness of domestic violence into an organization called BAVA: Be A Voice Arts to provide healing through artistic expression.
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, BAVA is hosting an "Artist Trading Card" challenge. An ATC is a small card, about the size of a playing card on which people write , draw, paint, collage, use photographs and more. ATC's are a worldwide art form where people often have 'groups' , create 'themes', and then create miniature works of art to trade and collect. They are almost like modern day baseball cards to some folks! I have complete details on my website: http://www.beavoicearts.com/i-have-a-voice-atc-challenge (***There is a 5.00 participation fee that will be waived if someone participates through a group home, therapy session, or some other type of organization designed to promote their healing). BAVA wants their voice, not their money!!
The theme is "I HAVE A VOICE!".
My creative vision for these ATC's is this:
I want to create a work of art where the cards hang on my wedding dress as an interactive gallery piece. The reason I am creating this wedding VOICE piece comes as an outcropping of a painting I did called "Til Death". 'Til Death' is a painting of me as a bride, tortured and hopeless, with 'X's" over the mouth to symbolize the secret and shame and inability to speak up during a relationship of abuse. After viewing that portrait, one would think that my wedding dress would be a symbol of the loss of hopes and dreams for a marriage and a future, yet in actuality, the dress will be transformed to symbolize the literal artistic VOICES that have come together as one to "Speak Up Against Domestic Violence". I want to hang all the submitted cards from the dress skirt and viewers can come up, turn the cards over in their hands, move around the piece and experience the "Voices!" I am hoping to generate enough response to fill up the skirt. I think it will be a very powerful piece and full of hope!
Help me fill the dress with YOUR artistic voice. You may save a life!
Michelle
SEIU - Service Employees International Union - Domestic violence victims have a "pre-existing condition"?
5:03 PM Eastern - September 11, 2009 By Maria Tchijov
Insurance companies have used the excuse of "pre-existing conditions" to deny coverage to countless Americans. From cancer patients to the elderly suffering from arthritis, these organizations have padded their profit margins by limiting coverage to patients deemed "high risk" because of their medical condition.
But, in DC and nine other states, including Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming, insurance companies have gone too far, claiming that "domestic violence victim" is also a pre-existing condition.
Words cannot describe the sheer inhumanity of this claim. It serves as yet further proof that our insurance system is broken, destroyed by the profit-mongering of the very companies who's sole purpose should be to provide Americans with access to care when they need it most. In 1994, an informal survey conducted by the Subcommittee on Crime and Criminal Justice of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee revealed that 8 of the 16 largest insurers in the country used domestic violence as a factor when decided whether to extend coverage and how much to charge if coverage was extended.
It is clear that insurance companies refuse to police themselves. It's up to us to call on Congress to take action now to pass health care reform and end discrimination against patients with pre-existing conditions.
I think this daughter speaking out on her moms behalf tells way more of the story than anything else I have heard about this case!
The daughter of an abusive NYPD officer shot dead by his battered wife said she's glad he's gone.
"No part of me misses him. My life is 150% better," Jennifer Sheehan said of her slain dad, Sgt. Raymond Sheehan, in an interview Thursday with Oprah Winfrey.
Jennifer Sheehan, 23, said she and her brother lived in "constant fear" her dad would harm their mom. He also went after them, once locking them in a bedroom at gunpoint, she said.
Barbara Sheehan pumped 11 bullets into her husband in their Howard Beach, Queens, home last February. She's awaiting trial on murder charges.
"I had no choice," a tearful Sheehan, 48, told Winfrey. "He was going to kill me."
Sheehan - who is free on $1 million bail - led a camera crew on a tour of the couple's upstairs bathroom, where she says her husband aimed a gun at her and threatened to kill her for refusing to join him on a trip to Florida.
She grabbed his second gun from the bedroom and raced for the stairs, opening fire when he refused to drop his gun.
"I just shot it," she said. "It all happened so fast."
Barbara Sheehan said she wanted to share her tale to warn other women to get out of abusive relationships.
She tried to leave her husband multiple times, but said he vowed to hunt her down and kill her and the kids.
Sheehan's lawyer, Michael Dowd, said he was "bewildered" that Queens prosecutors were pursuing the case in light of the history of abuse.
A spokesman for the Queens district attorney said, "This case, like all cases in Queens County, will be tried in the courtroom and not in the media."
Daughter of battered wife Barbara Sheehan, who killed NYPD officer husband, is glad mom shot dad
There is a new campaign going on in North Carolina, sponsored by the NCCADV, and running through Oct. 1, 2009.
If you live in NC please read about the campaign here: http://uaadvnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2009/04/power-of-one.html
If you are not in NC but you know others who are feel free to pass on the link or its contents in whatever way you see fit.
Thank you!!
How does it get to this? I understand that there has to be a hearing, but what was put into place after the first time to protect others (since it doesn't come right out and SAY this is against the same woman)? What about the second time in the same month? Here is says he was charged for this third incident...is he finally behind bars until something can be determined? I surely hope so, because in this case I don't see where he can plead not guilty....well I guess he could, but if he didn't do any of it (either time) then I guess he just has some bad lick in being blamed for violence.... Why can't something be done to protect others from these monsters?
"A Wadena man faces his third domestic violence case since September after an altercation at a Wadena apartment Dec. 27.
Ronald Blair, 49, is accused of punching a woman in the face and pushing her to the ground because she was “disrespecting” him, according to Wadena County court documents. The woman wielded a knife to protect herself in the fight.
The victim called 911 but Blair allegedly took the phone from her and broke it in half. When police arrived to investigate, Blair blamed the alleged victim for the incident, saying, “That b---- is all cracked out again!”
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Blair was charged Dec. 30 with felony domestic assault, interfering with a 911 call and fourth-degree criminal damage to property.
Court records indicate he has two previous domestic violence related charges from Sept. 17 and Sept. 30, 2008.
His first court hearing was set for Jan. 6."
This is a very long article but it is well worth the read! There is alot of good information here for someone who is experiencing abuse, or for someone that has a friend experiencing abuse. This article is also good for those that have recently gotten out of a Domestic Violence situation and are thinking they can't make it or contemplating going back. Going back is never a good idea and you can make! You are not alone and this article will show you that. Please pass this on to anyone you think would benefit from reading it.
"'My mom was killed by my dad so we moved,' Takia* says when asked what brought her to Baltimore. Sitting in the kitchen in the House of Ruth's shelter for battered woman, the pretty 28-year-old with a soft, open face is matter of fact, saying it the way others might say their dad got a..."
HANOI (AFP) — Gripping her skull to ease a constant pounding headache, Lieu explains how she came to a decision that would have been unthinkable in Vietnam just a few years ago — to divorce her husband.
Speaking in a measured voice, her eyes steady, the 29-year-old from Hanoi recounted two years of living hell, of the abuse, humiliation and physical violence she suffered at the hands of her husband and his family.
Things turned bad soon after they married in 2006, she said, when he would come home, having spent his meager postman’s salary on alcohol, shout at her and then beat her — sometimes so badly she passed out.
“His punches tore the skin around my eyes,” she told AFP, sitting in...
Read the rest of this article here: Vietnam women break silence on domestic violence « Tin Quê H°¡ng
I stumbled across a small mention of this comic strip and the fact that she will be running intermittent strips through November which discuss domestic violence. I ran across this in a article that actually is putting Sandra Bell-Lundy down for doing this. So I went searching to find out what is going on with this and how she is portraying it.
Below is one of the articles that I found. Looks to me like she is doing this as a good way to get the info out there! This is great as far as I am concerned, get awareness out to those that may not be able to get it any other way. Brilliant!!
Between Friends' Strip Addresses Spousal Abuse By E&P Staff Published: September 15, 2008 12:45 PM ET NEW YORK Sandra Bell-Lundy's "Between Friends" comic is addressing spousal abuse in a storyline that will run intermittently through November. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will experience domestic violence at some point. "A friend of mine was involved in this type of situation when she was in her early 20s," said Bell-Lundy. "She confided in me years later...." To gain more insight into domestic abuse, the Canadian cartoonist met with staff at women's shelters. Early response to the storyline has been very positive, according to King Features Syndicate, which distributes "Between Friends" to nearly 140 newspapers. It's primarily a humor strip. An example of a "Between Friends" spousal-abuse episode can be seen here.
Original Article: Between Friends' Strip Addresses Spousal Abuse
By clicking the word "here" above you are taken to just one example, however you can click on the calendar dates below that to see more. The strips referring to DV start in August and as far as I could tell the last one is Sept. 6th, but keep an eye on this; she is going to be writing the DV strips into the story line all the way through November.
I feel that we should follow this and we should support her and show her that this does matter and thank her for doing this! To view her blog go here. In one of her blog posts she says that she is in the process of making an archive with all the DV related strips to put up on her web site and will blog the link to it when she is finished.
I just spoke with the County Attorney Superior Courts Office. As of today the judge placed a no bail hold on Jeffrey until his arraignment on his bench warrant hearing that is scheduled on Sept 16. At this time the judge could give him a bail or keep the current no bail decision until Jeffrey's appeal hearing in Nov
But the good news is, from today until Sept 16th, Jeffrey will be held in the states prison.
Former USCG member arraigned
September 08, 2008 11:57 AMBRENTWOOD — A former New Hampshire based member of the U.S. Coast Guard, who jumped bail before being sentenced on domestic violence related charges, was arraigned in Rockingham Superior Court on Monday, Sept. 8.
Petty Officer First Class Jeffrey Ruggiero, 38, assigned to Coast Guard Sector Charleston S.C., was taken into custody last week and was returned to New Hampshire on Friday, Sept. 5. He was convicted on April 30 of three misdemeanor charges, sending obscene matter, criminal threatening and violation of a restraining order.
After being released on bail pending a sentencing hearing, Ruggiero failed to show up for a sentencing hearing on June 28. He was sentenced in Exeter District Court to three years in prison, with one year deferred for two years of good behavior.
"He was arraigned this morning on a bail jumping charge and Judge Tina Nadeau set bail at $25,000 cash or surety bond," said Rockingham County Attornaey Jim Reams. "He was brought back to the state by U.S. Marshals on Friday. If he makes bail he is out and will have to come back in November for a trial on the original charges. As of now he is still in Rockingham County Jail."
Reams said a warrant for Ruggiero's arrest was issued through his office after Ruggiero failed to appear. The original charges came out of East Kingston and Reams said Ruggiero had filed an appeal.
Officers from the Sheriff’s office of Georgetown County, with the cooperation of the U.S. Coast Guard, made the arrest last week based on the New Hampshire warrant.
It will be up to the court to decide if Ruggiero’s appeal is still valid, based on his fleeing the state.
"If the appeal is not accepted or if it is deemed waived because of his fleeing the state, he will have to serve the sentence imposed," said Deputy County Attorney Tom Reid in an earlier interview.
Lt. Matt Moorlag, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard said they have been and will remain in full cooperation with New Hampshire authorities. He also said the Coast Guard is looking at several administrative complaints against Ruggiero that could result in his being dismissed from the Coast Guard.
There was also more information posted over at An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog; which will clear up a little of what BM1 Ruggiero's lawyer stated in court yesterday as to what the CG was promising and what they had done. Apparently the Coast Guard was not present in the courtroom, they were not requested to present anything to the court, nor did they make any promises to the court or the lawyer representing BM1 Ruggiero. So the lawyer pretty much just said what he thought sounded good....well that is what is sounds like to me.
Also, to clear up the remarks about the service member being reported AWOL....yep I thought that sounded a little more on the side of falsehood than truth.
Seems that there should be someway for someone to bring these things into the view of the court, so that they can see that by being convinced into setting bail (AGAIN) that they just had the wool pulled over their eyes and that any appeals should not be entertained.
He did what he did, was convicted, now serve the time; plain, straightforward and to the point.
This is a case of Domestic Violence and Abuse. Yes, it appears that the waters were muddied there for a bit about what was going on with the Coast Guard and all that. But, from the get go this has been about one person harming and threatening to harm another, plain and simple. Now rather than facing what he has done BM1 Ruggiero gets his lawyer to throw it even further than what the real issue is, by going into court and making excuses.
I admit, I am WAY behind sending this update out! For that I apologize. However, do want to get this out, and I am currently looking for the info on what is happening with this as it goes into court.
Below are the articles (well the main ones) with the update.
In a nutshell: BM1 Ruggiero is finally in custody and awaiting punishment. I do believe that today (Monday, Sept. 8th, 08) is the day he will appear in court....however I could wrong about this.
http://equalcivilrights.blogspot.com/2008/08/bm1-jeffrey-ruggiero-in-custody-of.html
http://www.cgblog.org/search/label/domestic%20violence
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS/809020392/-1/rss02
Please take the time to actually read the above articles and the comments that have been made to them to get the full scope of what is going on here! I did not feel that it would help anything to repeat what has already been said....
Look for another update in a few days as soon as I find out what has happened in court!
Our Thoughts and Prayers remain with this family as they go through this difficult time.
posted 11:19 am Mon June 16, 2008 - South Carolina
An amber alert for a missing child ended Monday night.
Colin Nathaniel Custer was found with his father, Robert William Custer II, 45, in Virginia. Authorities cancelled the amber alert around 6:00 p.m.
The alert was issued in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia after Lexington County authorities found the boy's mother locked in a gas station bathroom Monday morning. She told them the child's father abducted them Sunday after a court-ordered visitation.
Robert Custer has a history of violence with women. Renee Pennell-Rashell says Custer placed a cloth over her mouth and nose and she lost consciousness.
There is no word on charges in this case.
After enduring seven months of escalating violence — including strangling, smothering and beatings with pieces of smashed furniture — an Alabama woman escaped her abusive boyfriend when a concerned neighbor offered shelter and brought her to the police.Read more here: When domestic violence erupts, what should a neighbor do?
The DVD Domestic Violence by Federick Wiseman, takes us into a DV Shelter. This film shows us what leads up to a woman going to a shelter and what happens once she is there.
Wiseman doesn't linger too long at the crime scenes. It's enough to see one woman covered in her own blood, punched so hard in a blow upside the jaw that her own teeth have cut one side of her face wide open. As she gradually comes out of the initial shock of being beaten she realizes that her shoulder, probably dislocated, hurts really bad and she's soon screaming in agony.
To read the entire review and/or purchase a copy of Domestic Violence please follow this link:
COLUMBIA — South Carolina judges could consider out-of-state convictions when sentencing criminal domestic violence offenders under a bill headed to the House floor.
The bill, sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Currently, only South Carolina convictions can be considered in South Carolina. The difference between a conviction for a first offense and a second or subsequent offense is significant.
The penalty for a first offense is up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $1,000 to $2,500, but a judge can suspended the jail time and fine if the offender agrees to complete a batterer treatment program.
If someone is convicted of a second offense, they face a mandatory minimum of 30 days up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,500 to $5,000. The judge can suspend the fine if a treatment program is completed.
A third offense requires a mandatory minimum of 1 year up to 5 years in jail.
BATTERED WOMAN'S SYNDROME
"Battered Woman Syndrome" describes a pattern of psychological and behavioral symptoms found in women living
in battering relationships."
Although many people believe that the battered woman's syndrome
is the result of physical violence, there are many dimensions of violence that can result in emotional, financial, spiritual , sexual and physical abuse to the victim.
There are four general characteristics of Battered Woman's
Syndrome:
THE MYTHS OF "BATTERED WOMAN'S SYNDROME"
Battered Women Are Crazy
The Batterer Is Not A Loving Partner
The Batterers Are Provoked
Battered Women Must "Like It" Or They'd Leave
Batterers Are Violent In All Of Their Relationships
Middle And Upper-Class Women Do Not Suffer Abuse As Much As Poorer Women
Alcoholism And Drug Addiction Are Major Contributors To Battering
